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What is a sales/field sales manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Bill Thorne,
Felicia Hodges
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Sales/field sales managers are responsible for training and supervising the sales representatives. They ensure that the staff performance meets excellence standards by outlining and communicating sales targets and delegating tasks. They also assign work to the sales representatives in an equitable manner and ensure that staff members are reimbursed for work-related purchases.

Sales/field sales managers earn an average sum of $81,000 annually or $39 per hour. Sales/field sales managers are professionals who are also known as outside sales managers. They are often familiar with the company's target market and the scope of area operations. As such, they are expected to have a strong sales background and determined attitude.

Part of their duties includes setting goals weekly or monthly and ensuring that they make the necessary steps to ensure that those goals are met. Sales/field sales managers typically hold a bachelor's degree in a business-related field from an accredited university. They are expected to have some years of proven experience as a sales manager or a similar role. Employers also mostly require a valid driver's license and the ability to sustain meaningful working relationships.

What general advice would you give to a sales/field sales manager?

Bill ThorneBill Thorne LinkedIn profile

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation

Retail is the largest private-sector employer in the country, directly employing 32 million people and supporting 52 million jobs overall - roughly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce. While COVID-19 has presented new and unexpected challenges, retailers have continued to showcase the industry's resilience and adaptability time and again. The safety and security of customers and employees remains our greatest priority. It is no doubt that the professional environment has changed this year, but retail continues to offer a plethora of career opportunities for graduates and seasoned veterans alike.
ScoreSales/Field Sales ManagerUS Average
Salary
6.3

Avg. Salary $80,257

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 24.52%

male 75.48%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Sales/field sales manager career paths

Key steps to become a sales/field sales manager

  1. Explore sales/field sales manager education requirements

    Most common sales/field sales manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    73.9 %

    Associate

    13.8 %

    High School Diploma

    5.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific sales/field sales manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service12.59%
    Lead Generation6.97%
    Sales Training5.47%
    Account Management5.06%
    Sales Strategies4.52%
  3. Complete relevant sales/field sales manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sales/field sales managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a sales/field sales manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sales/field sales manager resumes.
  4. Research sales/field sales manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage a high volume territory of large OEM and distributor accounts.
    • Collaborate with health care providers to utilize cutting-edge DNA technology and manage patients as individuals with specific metabolic processes.
    • Educate personnel on new and existing products and sales techniques to increase ROI.
    • Increase revenue with customers through high impact PowerPoint presentations.
  5. Prepare your sales/field sales manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your sales/field sales manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a sales/field sales manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable sales/field sales manager resume templates

    Build a professional sales/field sales manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your sales/field sales manager resume.
    Sales/Field Sales Manager Resume
    Sales/Field Sales Manager Resume
    Sales/Field Sales Manager Resume
    Sales/Field Sales Manager Resume
    Sales/Field Sales Manager Resume
    Sales/Field Sales Manager Resume
    Sales/Field Sales Manager Resume
    Sales/Field Sales Manager Resume
    Sales/Field Sales Manager Resume
  6. Apply for sales/field sales manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a sales/field sales manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first sales/field sales manager job

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Average sales/field sales manager salary

The average sales/field sales manager salary in the United States is $80,257 per year or $39 per hour. Sales/field sales manager salaries range between $51,000 and $124,000 per year.

Average sales/field sales manager salary
$80,257 Yearly
$38.59 hourly

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How do sales/field sales managers rate their job?

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Sales/field sales manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

Motivating people and helping to create success in each person's day. Honor God serve people in rich people's lives, pursue excellence in service.

Cons

Not enough time in each day to get everything accomplished.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Semi-flexible work hours. You have a sales goal and customers to call on in order to achieve said goal, so you have some flexibility of your schedule.

Cons

The amount of travel required takes you away from home frequently. If you have a family, being away starts taking a toll on them and work/life balance suffers.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Marketing products from a traceable companies to consumers and providing a good service to the clients .


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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